Health Secretary unveils plan to sort out NHS missed targets simply by deleting them

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said he wants 'fewer targets' as NHS figures show patients are waiting for record times as doctors, ambulances and hospitals struggle to cope even before the winter crisis
Health Secretary Steve Barclay plans to scrap some NHS targets (
Image: PA)

Ministers are preparing to scrap a series of NHS targets as patients face record waits for treatment.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has admitted doctors, ambulances and hospitals are under 'enormous pressure'.

Families in need of GP appointments struggle for weeks to be seen, while record numbers wait for hospital treatment.

Certainly ill patients face long delays when calling 999, then find themselves stuck on carts in hallways when they finally arrive at the ER.

Mr. Barclay was condemned for "not having a clue", as he suggested that a solution to the coming winter crisis is simply to abandon some of the targets that are not being met.

Critically ill patients wait hours for treatment as hospitals and ambulances grapple with demand (stock image) (
Picture:
PA Archives/PA Images)
Appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the minister said he wanted 'fewer targets' with local health service bosses allowed to set their own priorities.

The current system allows patients to compare the performance of their local hospitals against others in the country.

But Mr Barclay insisted regional NHS leaders are "better able to tailor priorities to their local needs", adding: "No one is suggesting we don't have targets", he said.

He denied that A&E wait time targets wouldn't be among those to be scrapped, saying they are "very helpful".

NHS England figures show the government is falling short of key targets. The proportion of all patients in A&E units and minor injury units seen, discharged or admitted within four hours fell to 69% in October, well below the NHS target of 95% which has not been achieved since 2015.

More than seven million people are waiting for hospital treatment, such as an operation.

Mr. Barclay insisted the pressures on the NHS were "mainly" pandemic-related.

But

Politics Nov 20, 2022 0 28 Add to Reading List

Health Secretary unveils plan to sort out NHS missed targets simply by deleting them

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said he wants 'fewer targets' as NHS figures show patients are waiting for record times as doctors, ambulances and hospitals struggle to cope even before the winter crisis

Health Secretary Steve Barclay plans to scrap some NHS targets (

Image: PA)

Ministers are preparing to scrap a series of NHS targets as patients face record waits for treatment.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has admitted doctors, ambulances and hospitals are under 'enormous pressure'.

Families in need of GP appointments struggle for weeks to be seen, while record numbers wait for hospital treatment.

Certainly ill patients face long delays when calling 999, then find themselves stuck on carts in hallways when they finally arrive at the ER.

Mr. Barclay was condemned for "not having a clue", as he suggested that a solution to the coming winter crisis is simply to abandon some of the targets that are not being met.

Critically ill patients wait hours for treatment as hospitals and ambulances battle demand (stock image)

Critically ill patients wait hours for treatment as hospitals and ambulances grapple with demand (stock image) (

Picture:

PA Archives/PA Images)

Appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the minister said he wanted 'fewer targets' with local health service bosses allowed to set their own priorities.

The current system allows patients to compare the performance of their local hospitals against others in the country.

But Mr Barclay insisted regional NHS leaders are "better able to tailor priorities to their local needs", adding: "No one is suggesting we don't have targets", he said.

He denied that A&E wait time targets wouldn't be among those to be scrapped, saying they are "very helpful".

NHS England figures show the government is falling short of key targets. The proportion of all patients in A&E units and minor injury units seen, discharged or admitted within four hours fell to 69% in October, well below the NHS target of 95% which has not been achieved since 2015.

More than seven million people are waiting for hospital treatment, such as an operation.

Mr. Barclay insisted the pressures on the NHS were "mainly" pandemic-related.

But